Product Dispensing System With Anti-Theft Engagement

ABSTRACT

A product dispensing system including a dispenser that includes a frame having two opposed side walls and a support surface between the opposed side walls, and a container positioned on the support surface, the container being releasably engaged with the frame.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/777,444 filed on May 11, 2010 (pending), the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference, which claims priorityfrom U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/263,767 filed on Nov.23, 2009 (expired), the entire contents of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

FIELD

This application relates to the dispensing of products from packagingcontainers and, more particularly, to product dispensing systems havingan engagement between the dispenser and the container to impede removalof the container from the dispenser.

BACKGROUND

Products are typically shipped to retailers in bulk by enclosingmultiple individual product units in a container, such as a carton orbox. For example, canned soup may be shipped to a retailer in a boxcontaining multiple cans. Then, a stock clerk typically removes theindividual product units from the container and stacks them on a displayunit, such as a shelf, thereby making the products available toconsumers.

The process of removing products from shipping containers and stackingthe products on a shelf can be quite time consuming. Specifically, thetraditional package-ship-unpack-display model requires a stock clerk toobtain a package from the supplier, open the package, remove all of theproduct units from the open package, and stack each of the product unitson a display unit. In the case of small, high volume products, such ascanned foods, the amount of time required to neatly stock a display unitcan become extensive, thereby significantly increasing a stores overalloperating expenses.

Furthermore, products stacked on a shelf are more prone to theft. Forexample, thieves have been known to steal large quantities of productsimply by sweeping the products off the shelf into a bag.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art continue to seek alternatives tothe traditional package-ship-unpack-display model in an effort toimprove operating efficiency and minimize theft loss.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the disclosed product dispensing system may include adispenser that includes a frame having two opposed side walls and asupport surface between the opposed side walls, and a containerpositioned on the support surface, the container being releasablyengaged with the frame.

In another aspect, the disclosed product dispensing system may include adispenser including a frame having a support surface that defines anupper level of the dispenser and a lower level of the dispenser, theframe defining an opening between the upper level and the lower level,and a container positioned on the support surface, a portion of thecontainer extending through the opening.

In yet another aspect, the disclosed product dispensing system mayinclude a dispenser including a frame having two opposed side walls anda support surface between the opposed side walls, a container positionedon the support surface, and a detent extending between the dispenser andthe container to secure the container relative to the dispenser.

Other aspects of the disclosed product dispensing system with anti-theftengagement will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one aspect of the disclosedproduct dispensing system with anti-theft engagement, shown in adisassembled and undeployed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the product dispensing system withanti-theft engagement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in section, of the product dispensingsystem with anti-theft engagement of FIG. 2, shown in an assembled anddeployed configuration

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the container of the productdispensing system with anti-theft engagement of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom and end perspective view of a portion of thecontainer of FIG. 4, shown in a deployed configuration;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container blank used to form thecontainer of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7A is a front elevational view, in section, of a portion of thecontainer and the dispenser shown in an engaged configuration inaccordance with another aspect of the disclosed product dispensingsystem; and

FIG. 7B is a front elevational view, in section, of the container anddispenser of FIG. 7A shown in a disengaged configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, one aspect of the disclosed product dispensingsystem with anti-theft engagement, generally designated 10, may includea dispenser 12 and a container 14. The container 14 may house multipleunits of product 16 (FIGS. 2 and 3), such as cans (e.g., canned soup),jars (e.g., jarred sauce) or bottles (e.g., bottled soft drinks).Therefore, when the container 14 is loaded onto the dispenser 12, asshown in FIG. 3, the dispenser 12 may open the container 14 to releasethe products 16 from the container 14 into the dispenser 12 and anengagement between the dispenser 12 and the container 14 may inhibitremoval of the container 14 from the dispenser 12.

The container 14 may be any container capable of housing products 16 andestablishing an engagement with the disclosed dispenser 12, as disclosedherein. In one construction, the container 14 may be a generallyrectilinear container having six walls 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 thatdefine an internal volume 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Opposed walls18 and 20 may define the front and rear walls, respectively, of thecontainer 14. Opposed walls 22 and 24 may define the first (e.g., left)and second (e.g., right) side walls, respectively, of the container 14.Opposed walls 26 and 28 may define the upper and base walls,respectively, of the container 14.

Optionally, the container 14 may include a partition 32 extendingtherethrough to divide the internal volume 30 into a first chamber 34and a second chamber 36. The partition 32 may be a generally planarstructure that is generally parallel with, but spaced apart from, thefirst and second side walls 22, 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, afirst quantity of product 16 may be housed in the first chamber 34 and asecond quantity of product 16 may be housing in the second chamber 36.

Still referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the base wall 28 of the container 14may define one or more door flaps 38, 40 that, when opened as describedbelow, pivot relative to the container 14 to provide an opening 42 tothe internal volume 30 of the container 14. Those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the door flaps 38, 40 may be pre-defined and/or maybe formed as the container 14 is loaded onto the dispenser 12.

In one implementation, the door flaps 38, 40 may be defined by a firstrow of perforations 44 extending laterally from the first side wall 22to the second side wall 24 and a second row of perforations 46 extendinglongitudinally from the first row of perforations 44 to the rear end 48of the base wall 28. Therefore, when the base wall 28 is cut along thefirst and second rows of perforations 44, 46, the first door flap 38 isfree to pivot along the edge 50 between the first side wall 22 and thebase wall 28 and the second door flap 40 is free to pivot along the edge52 between the second side wall 24 and the base wall 28, thereby formingthe opening 42 in the container 14, as shown in FIG. 5.

Optionally, the base wall 28 of the container 14 may also define anopening 54 positioned adjacent to the door flaps 38, 40. The opening 54may be longitudinally aligned with the second row of perforations 46 andpositioned immediately forward of the second row of perforations 46 suchthat a cutting element (discussed below) traveling along the second rowof perforations 46 stops cutting at the front end 56 of the second rowof perforations 46.

The container 14 may be formed from a container blank, such as thecontainer blank 60 shown in FIG. 6. The container blank 60 may bepre-cut from a sheet of stock material to define an outer periphery 61of the container blank 60. In one particular aspect, the stock materialmay be a paperboard-based material, such as C1S paperboard, which mayhave a coating (e.g., clay) on a first major surface thereof and anuncoated second major surface, or C2S paperboard, which may have acoating (e.g., clay) on both major surfaces thereof. Optionally, atleast one major surface of the container blank 60 (or at least a portionthereof) may be marked with various indicia, such as printed text andgraphics.

The container blank 60 may include a plurality of pre-formed fold lines62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 that define wall panels 82, 84,86, 88, a transition panel 90, a partition panel 92, first major 94, 96and minor 98, 100 end flaps, second major 102, 104 and minor 106 endflaps and partition flaps 108, 110. Specifically, wall panel 82 may bedefined by the periphery 61 of the blank 60 and fold lines 62, 74 and76, and may form the upper wall 26 of the assembled container 14 (FIG.4). Wall panel 84 may be defined by fold lines 62, 64, 74 and 76, andmay form side wall 24 of the assembled container 14. Wall panel 86 maybe defined by the periphery 61 and fold lines 64, 66 and 74, and mayform the base wall 28 of the assembled container 14. Wall panel 88 maybe defined by fold lines 66, 68, 74 and 78, and may form the side wall22 of the assembled container 14. Partition panel 92 may be defined bythe periphery 61 of the blank 60 and fold lines 70, 72 and 80, and mayform the partition 32 (FIG. 4) of the assembled container 14. Transitionpanel 90 may be defined by the periphery 61 of the blank 60 and foldlines 68 and 70, and may function to space the partition 32 between theside walls 22, 24 of the assembled container 14. First major 94, 96 andminor 98, 100 end flaps may be defined by the periphery 61 of the blank60 and fold line 74, and may form the front wall 18 of the assembledcontainer 14. Second major 102, 104 and minor 106 end flaps may bedefined by the periphery 61 of the blank 60 and fold lines 76 and 78,and may form the rear wall 20 of the assembled container 14. Partitionflaps 108, 110 may be defined by the periphery 61 of the blank 60 andthe fold lines 80 and 72, respectively, and may be used to secure thepartition 32 between the side walls 22, 24 of the assembled container14.

The container 8 may be assembled by folding the container blank 60 alongthe longitudinal fold lines 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72 and connecting wallpanel 82 to transition panel 90 to form the three-dimensional body ofthe container 14. Additionally, partition flap 110 may be connected towall panel 86 to secure the partition 32 between the side walls 22, 24of the container 14. Then, the first major 94, 96 and minor 98, 100 endflaps may be assembled to form the front wall 18 of the container 14 andthe second major 102, 104 and minor 106 end flaps may be assembled toform the rear wall 20 of the container 14.

While a specific container blank 60 is shown and described, thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that various techniques and materialsmay be used to form the container 14 of the disclosed product dispensingsystem with anti-theft engagement 10. Folded paperboard containers areonly one specific and non-limiting example of the container 14 of thedisclosed product dispensing system with anti-theft engagement 10.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-3, the dispenser 12 may include a frame 120for supporting the container 14 and the products 16 in a desiredconfiguration and a cutting element 122 for cutting the container 14 asthe container 14 is being loaded onto the dispenser frame 120. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the dispenser 12 may includeadditional components and features, such as the components and featuresof the dispensers disclosed in U.S. Ser. No. 12/777,444, withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

The frame 120 may include a first side wall 124, a second side wall 126,an upper support surface 128 and a lower support surface 130. The firstside wall 124 may be laterally spaced from the second side wall 126, andmay be generally parallel with the second side wall 126.

The lower support surface 130 may extend longitudinally between thefirst 124 and second 126 side walls, and may include a front end 132that extends to the front ends 134, 136 of the side walls 124, 126, anda rear end 138 that extends to the rear ends 140, 142 of the side walls124, 126. Therefore, the lower support surface 130 and the side walls124, 126 may define a lower level 144 of the frame 120.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the lower support surface 130 may be inclinedfrom the front end 132 to the rear end 138 (i.e., the rear end 138 maybe elevated relative to the front end 132) such that products 16deposited proximate (i.e., at or near) the rear end 138 of the lowersupport surface 130 roll down to the front end 132 of the lower supportsurface 130 under the force of gravity. The extent of the incline of thelower support surface 130 may be dictated by, among other things, thecoefficient of friction of the material used to form the frame 120 andthe shape of the products 16 to be dispensed by the dispenser 12.

One or more stops 146 may be positioned proximate the front end 132 ofthe lower support surface 130 to prevent product 16 from rolling beyondthe front end 132 of the lower support surface 130. For example, thestop 146 may be connected to (e.g., integral with) the lower supportsurface 130, and may be an upward curve at the front end 132 of thelower support surface 130. Therefore, the stop 146 may collect product16 at the front end 132 of the lower support surface 130, therebyestablishing a product display area 148 at the front end 132 of thelower support surface 130.

In one particular implementation, the frame 120 may include a divider150 extending from the front end 132 of the lower support surface 130 tothe rear end 138 of the lower support surface 130 to divide the lowerlevel 144 into a first product channel 152 and a second product channel154. The first product channel 152 may be defined by the lower supportsurface 130, the first side wall 124 and the divider 150, and may extendfrom proximate the rear end 138 of the lower support surface 130 to thefront end 132 of the lower support surface 130. The second productchannel 154 may be defined by the lower support surface 130, the secondside wall 126 and the divider 150, and may extend from proximate therear end 138 of the lower support surface 130 to the front end 132 ofthe lower support surface 130. While two product channels 152, 154 areshown and described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that theframe 120 may be constructed to provide only one product channel or morethan two product channels, without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The upper support surface 128 may extend longitudinally between thefirst 124 and second 126 side walls, and may include a front end 156that extends to the front ends 134, 136 of the side walls 124, 126, anda rear end 158 that extends toward, but not to, the rear ends 140, 142of the side walls 124, 126, thereby defining an upper level 160 of theframe 120. The spacing between the rear end 158 of the upper supportsurface 128 and the rear ends 140, 142 of the side walls 124, 126 maydefine an opening 162, which may function as a chute to allow product 16to move from the upper level 160 to the lower level 144 of the frame120.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the upper support surface 128 may be declinedfrom the front end 156 to the rear end 158 (i.e., the front end 156 maybe elevated relative to the rear end 158). Therefore, product 16supported by the upper support surface 128 may roll under the force ofgravity to the rear end 158 of the upper support surface 128, throughthe opening 162, down to the rear end 138 of the lower support surface130 and, ultimately, to the product display area 148 of the lower level144 of the frame 120.

The container 14 may be loaded onto, and supported by, the upper supportsurface 128 of the frame 120 of the dispenser 12, as shown in FIG. 3. Asthe container 14 is being urged toward the rear end 158 of the uppersupport surface 128, the cutting element 122 may cut through the basewall 28 of the container 14 along the second row of perforations 46,thereby separating the door flaps 38, 40 such that the door flaps 38, 40may pivot along edges 50, 52 away from the container 14 and through theopening 162 in the frame 120, thereby releasing the product 16 thereinto the dispenser 12 while simultaneously engaging the container 14 withthe dispenser 12. Specifically, with the door flaps 38, 40 extendingthrough the opening 162 defined by the frame 120, interference betweenthe door flaps 38, 40 of the container 14 and the rear end 158 of theupper support surface 128 of the frame 120 may resist withdrawal of thecontainer 14 from the dispenser 12 in the direction shown by arrow A.

Prior to loading the container 14 onto the dispenser 12, a user (e.g., astock clerk), may pre-cut the base wall 28 of the container 14 along thefirst row of perforations 44 to partially define the door flaps 38, 40.As an example, the cut along the first row of perforations 44 may bemade with a cutting tool (e.g., a knife) or by pulling a rip-strip (notshown) incorporated into the container 14 and extending along the firstrow of perforations 44. Alternatively, the first row of perforations 44may be sufficiently weak as to tear under the weight of the product 16in the container 14 once the second row of perforations 46 has beensevered, thereby avoiding the need for pre-cutting.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, another aspect of the disclosed productdispensing system with anti-theft engagement, generally designated 10′,may include a dispenser 12′ and a container 14′, similar to the system10 described above. At least one wall 24′ of the container 14′ maydefine a recess 200 therein. The frame 120′ (e.g., wall 124′) of thedispenser 12′ may include a recess 202 and a detent 204 extendingtherethrough (or therefrom). One or more biasing elements 206 (e.g.,coil springs) may bias the detent 204 into engagement with the recess200 in the container 14′, as shown in FIG. 7A

Thus, the detent 204 may provide an engagement between the container 14′and the dispenser 12′ when the container 14′ is supported on thedispenser 12′. To remove the container 14′ from the dispenser 12′, aforce (arrow F) sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the biasingelements 206 may be applied to the detent 204 to withdraw the detent 204from the recess 200 in the container 14′, thereby freeing the container14′ from the dispenser 12′.

Accordingly, the engagement between the dispenser 12, 12′ and thecontainer 14, 14′ of the disclosed product dispensing systems 10, 10′may impede removal of the container 14, 14′ from the dispenser 12, 12′,thereby functioning as a theft deterrent.

Although various aspects of the disclosed product dispensing system withanti-theft engagement have been shown and described, modifications mayoccur to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. Thepresent application includes such modifications and is limited only bythe scope of the claims.

1. A product dispensing system comprising: a dispenser comprising aframe having two opposed side walls and a support surface between saidopposed side walls; and a container positioned on said support surface,said container being releasably engaged with said frame.
 2. The productdispensing system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of productshoused in said container.
 3. The product dispensing system of claim 1wherein said container comprises paperboard.
 4. The product dispensingsystem of claim 1 wherein said support surface includes a front end anda rear end, said front end being elevated relative to said rear end. 5.The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein said support surfacedefines a plane, and wherein a first portion of said container ispositioned above said plane and a second portion of said container ispositioned below said plane.
 6. The product dispensing system of claim 1wherein said support surface defines an upper level and a lower level ofsaid dispenser, and wherein said frame defines an opening between saidupper level and said lower level.
 7. The product dispensing system ofclaim 6 wherein a portion of said container extends through saidopening.
 8. The product dispensing system of claim 6 wherein saidcontainer defines a flap, and wherein said flap extends through saidopening.
 9. The product dispensing system of claim 1 wherein saiddispenser further comprises a cutting element extending at leastpartially through said container.
 10. The product dispensing system ofclaim 1 wherein said dispenser comprises a detent engaged with saidcontainer.
 11. The product dispensing system of claim 10 wherein saidcontainer defines a recess, and wherein said detent extends into saidrecess.
 12. The product dispensing system of claim 10 wherein saiddispenser further comprises a biasing element position to bias saiddetent into engagement with said container.
 13. A product dispensingsystem comprising: a dispenser comprising a frame having a supportsurface that defines an upper level of said dispenser and a lower levelof said dispenser, said frame defining an opening between said upperlevel and said lower level; and a container positioned on said supportsurface, a portion of said container extending through said opening. 14.The product dispensing system of claim 13 further comprising a pluralityof products housed in said container.
 15. The product dispensing systemof claim 13 wherein said support surface includes a front end and a rearend, said front end being elevated relative to said rear end.
 16. Theproduct dispensing system of claim 13 wherein said container defines aninternal volume, an opening into said internal volume and a flap forsealing said opening of said container.
 17. The product dispensingsystem of claim 16 wherein said flap extends through said opening.
 18. Aproduct dispensing system comprising: a dispenser comprising a framehaving two opposed side walls and a support surface between said opposedside walls; a container positioned on said support surface; and a detentextending between said dispenser and said container to retain saidcontainer relative to said dispenser.
 19. The product dispensing systemof claim 18 wherein said container defines a recess, and wherein saiddetent extends from said dispenser into said recess.
 20. The productdispensing system of claim 19 wherein said detent is biased into saidrecess.